29900 - Applied Microbiology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the class, the student has the tools for a critical evaluation of the impact that the diffusion, control and manipulation of microorganisms have on human health and society. Through the study of the complex microorganism-host interactions, the student is able to understand and describe the dynamics of infectious processes, the pathogenic mechanisms and the main strategies of antimicrobial prophylaxis and therapy. The study of microbial interactions also include the symbiotic relationships established between the human microbiota and the host. Finally, the student is able to illustrate and discuss the main technologies used for the characterization of human microbial ecosystems, as well as the most important applications of microbial biotechnologies in the biomedical and food fields.

Course contents

Theoretical lessons module

Microbial interactions: relationships of symbiosis (human microbiota) and relationships of pathogenicity.

Control of microbial infections: antimicrobial agents.

Therapeutic manipulation of the microbiota: probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics.

Analysis of microbial communities using culture and molecular methods.

Omics technologies: microbial genomics, trascrittomics and proteomics.

Biotechnology and microbial metabolism.

Primary microbial metabolites: amino acids and vitamins.

Secondary microbial metabolites: antibiotics.

Practice module

Study, elaboration and discussion of scientific articles concerning the topics of the course.

Laboratory module

Microscopy, isolation and identification of probiotic microorganisms from foods and supplements, extraction of genomic DNA from a bacterial culture, amplification of the 16S rRNA gene, sequence analysis by comparison with databases, MIC determination of an antibiotic, microbial growth curve and determination of kinetic parameters. 

Readings/Bibliography

Brock. Biologia dei microrganismi. Microbiologia generale, ambientale e industriale. 14/Ed. Pearson.

Biotecnologie Microbiche. Stefano Donadio e Gennaro Marino. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana.

Microbiologia Sistematica, Ambientale ed Industriale. M. Willey, M. Sherwood, J. Woolverton. MvGray-Hill.

Teaching methods

- slides uploaded to VIRTUALE

- laboratory protocols loaded on VIRTUALE

- scientific articles presentation (interactive)

- Teams platform

- As concerns the teaching methods of this course unit, all students (including all the international incoming exchange students, i.e. ERASMUS) must attend Module 1, 2 online [https://www.unibo.it/it/servizi-e-opportunita/salute-e-assistenza/salute-e-sicurezza/sicurezza-e-salute-nei-luoghi-di-studio-e-tirocinio], while Module 3 on health and safety is to be attended in class. Information about Module 3 attendance schedule is available on the website of your degree programme ("studiare"--"formazione obbligatoria su sicurezza e salute").

Assessment methods

Written or oral test in the examination windows for the verification of theoretical and lab content.

Teaching tools

- slides uploaded to VIRTUALE

- laboratory protocols loaded on VIRTUALE

- Teams platform

Office hours

See the website of Beatrice Vitali